Voters give most area school issues passing grades

Wednesday

May 7, 2014 at 12:01 AMMay 7, 2014 at 11:24 AM

A new high school is coming to Groveport Madison schools, and nine other central Ohio districts also appeared to be passing levies or bond issues. But at least four central Ohio districts likely will be returning to the polls after voters rejected their requests yesterday.

Charlie Boss, The Columbus Dispatch

A new high school is coming to Groveport Madison schools, and nine other central Ohio districts also appeared to be passing levies or bond issues.

But at least four central Ohio districts likely will be returning to the polls after voters rejected their requests yesterday.

The results were mostly positive for the 14 central Ohio districts on the ballot. Voters said yes in the Groveport Madison, Canal Winchester, Berne Union, Granville, Johnstown, Jonathan Alder, Northridge, Jefferson, Madison Plains and North Union school districts. They turned down levy and bond issue bids in the Logan Elm, Liberty Union-Thurston, Walnut Township and Southwest Licking school districts.

Jefferson vote tallies showed the district’s income-tax levy winning, but it was so close that it likely will trigger a recount.

Election Results: Primary 2014

For Groveport Madison, which had pledged deep cuts if the combined issue lost, a win means a new high school, transportation for high-school students and athletic programs without fees. More than 100 levy supporters gathered at the high school were cautiously celebratory when vote totals showed the levy winning with 53 percent of the vote last night.

“A bond issue has not passed (in Groveport) since 1971,” Groveport Madison Superintendent Bruce Hoover told students, parents and community members last night at the high school. “This facility is 41 years old. It’s the newest facility in Groveport.”

Still, a few straggling precincts that had yet to report left some doubt in a district that lost its last levy try by 12 votes.

“Our results are not official, but we’re projecting a victory. This looks like we’ll keep, restore and improve the vital educational programs and services our children need,” said Maria McGraw, co-chairwoman of the levy campaign.

In Canal Winchester schools — the only other Franklin County district on the primary ballot — a win will mean the district can continue its operations and some new money will come in as new homes and businesses develop in the district.

As of 11:30 p.m., district officials were unwilling to declare victory with incomplete vote totals. But with 11 of 15 Franklin County precincts counted and all of the district’s Fairfield County precincts in, the levy was winning with 55 percent of the vote.

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Results are unofficial.

Berne Union

• What happened: Voters approved replacing the current five-year, 1 percent traditional income tax with a 10-year, 2 percent tax on earned income only. Final, unofficial returns show the tax passing with about 53 percent of the vote, including two precincts in Hocking County.

• What now: The change was proposed to help retirees by not taxing pension income while generating about $1.6 million annually, up from the current $1 million. The increase is needed to keep up with expenses in the district of about 950 students, which operates on a $10 million general-fund budget, Treasurer Kirk Grandy said.

• Comment: “We have been good stewards of the money and have kept our personnel costs down,” Grandy said.

Canal Winchester

• What happened: About 55 percent of voters OK’d a $5.8 million “substitute” levy. School officials did not immediately declare a levy win, which would allow the district to continue its operations and begin receiving additional income from new development.

• What now: If approved, homeowners will pay $433 per $100,000 of valuation — the same amount they do now. The district will be able to maintain operations. The approved tax request replaces an emergency levy that expires at the end of the year. Officials said the $5.8 million the levy would raise represents about 16 percent of the district’s income. The district’s budget this school year is $35.2 million.

Granville

• What happened: Voters renewed a 1.7-mill capital improvements levy that will raise about $720,000 annually. The levy, first approved in 1994, accounts for more than 80 percent of the district’s capital expenditures. The levy passed with 63 percent of the vote, according to final, unofficial results from the county board of elections.

• What now: The district has a list of targeted improvements, including upgraded heating systems, roof improvements, technology upgrades, beefed-up safety and security and a new bus.

• Comment: “I think (this result) shows that we’ve done well with managing taxpayer dollars. The Granville community has shown great support for its schools, and we take that very seriously as we continue to maintain our fiscal responsibility to the community.”

Groveport Madison

• What happened: About 53 percent of voters said yes to a combined levy/bond issue that will replace the district’s high school and stave off $3 million in cuts, including 32 jobs, all athletic and extracurricular programs and art and music programs at elementary and middle schools.

• What now: Taxpayers will pay about $312 more a year per every $100,000 of valuation. School officials will phase in more classes and programs that boost college-and career-readiness efforts and move forward with technology purchases.

The district also will begin work on the new high school, which is part of a state project. The $33.3 million bond issue, to be collected at an average annual rate of 2.24 mills for 38 years, covers the local share. The levy, to be collected at 6.68 mills, includes 0.5 mill for upkeep of facilities.

• Comment: “This is going to give us financial stability and provide space we’ve long needed to provide our kids with safety and academic courses that they need to be competitive in the state of Ohio,” Superintendent Bruce Hoover said.

Jefferson Local

• What happened: An income tax to keep Jefferson Local Schools operating passed by just three votes, according to complete but unofficial results, prompting a mandatory recount. The 5-year, 1 percent tax will begin on Jan. 1 if the vote holds up. Voters cast 449 votes for the tax and 446 against it.

• What now: Superintendent William Mullett said that if the recount finds that the levy failed, the schools likely would come back in November with a new levy to pay for operating expenses, including teacher salaries and supplies.

• Comment: “We haven’t asked for new millage in over 20 years, so we’ve gone a long, long time and made do and tried to just get by on what we have,” Mullett said. “Obviously it’s a tough time in the economy, and we knew this was going to be a close election.”

Johnstown-Monroe

• What happened: Voters approved a new $35.9 million bond issue to be paid off with property tax collected at an annual average rate of 7.5 mills for 38 years, as well as a 0.5-mill permanent improvement levy required for maintenance of the bond for building and renovation projects. The levy passed with 54 percent of the vote, according to final, unofficial returns from the county board of elections.

• What now: The bond issue will pay for the district’s 71 percent share of a building project for a new high school and a new K-5 elementary, as well as for converting the current high school into a middle school. The state, through its School Facilities Commission, will pay for the remaining 39 percent of the project.

• Comment: “These buildings are old. Goodness sakes, have we signed the POs (purchase orders) to keep these running,” said interim Superintendent Nelson McCray.

Jonathan Alder Local

• What happened: Voters approved a half-percent income tax to pay daily operating costs in the district, allowing the district to raise about $1.3 million a year to cover salaries, utilities and other expenses. The tax passed in both Union and Madison counties with 52 percent voting for it.

• What now: Superintendent Gary Chapman said the tax will allow the district to upgrade technology and wireless access, increase early childhood programming and add electives at the high school.

• Comment: “We’re still going to be very conservative in how we manage taxpayer dollars,” Chapman said. “But it releases the pressure that we’ve been under and will let us provide resources for all our students.”

Liberty Union-Thurston

• What happened: Nearly 52 percent of voters rejected making permanent (rather than renewable, as it has been) a 0.5 percent portion of the income tax, keeping the total income tax at a permanent 1.75 percent. The 0.5 percent expires in 2015.

• What now: The district of about 1,400 students, which operates on a $12 million general-fund budget, was seeking funding stability. Making permanent the formerly renewable piece of the income tax, which generates $725,000 of the $2.9 million generated by the 1.75 percent income tax, was to provide that stability, Superintendent Paul Mathews said.

• Comment: “We would have to take a close look” at going back on the ballot in November, he said.

Logan Elm Local

• What happened: The school district will have to delay building new schools and avoid making improvements to existing ones after voters rejected a bond and levy, according to complete but unofficial results. The $36.3 million bond issue would have been paid off over 37 years at 6.1 mills per year, which would have cost the owner of a $100,000 home $213 a year. An accompanying permanent, 1-mill levy to raise $304,637 a year for permanent improvements to school buildings also failed. That levy would have cost the owner of a $100,000 home $35 a year. Voters in Pickaway and Hocking counties rejected the taxes by 47 votes, casting 1,664 ballots against the taxes and 1,616 in favor.

• What now: Superintendent Tim Williams would not say whether the district would bring a bond or levy to the ballot later this year.

• Comment: “The district’s goal is to provide our students with the same opportunities that other students in the state are afforded,” Williams said.

Madison-Plains Local

• What happened: Voters approved a renewal tax levy that will raise $1.5 million a year to help cover operating expenses for the district. The levy will not increase taxes; the owner of a $100,000 home will continue to pay $171 a year. The levy passed with about 57 percent of the votes, according to complete but unofficial results.

• What now: Kelly Cooley, president of the Madison-Plains Board of Education, said the district will be able to stick with its 10-year financial plan because the levy passed and will be able to pay its existing staff without cutting positions.

• Comment: “What this does is it allows us to maintain, and to make plans for the future,” Cooley said.

North Union Local

• What happened: Voters approved a 2.1-mill, 10-year renewal levy to pay for general operating expenses for the school district. The levy, which will not increase taxes, will cost the owner of a $100,000 home $120 a year and will raise $210,000 a year. The levy passed with about 62 percent of the vote.

• What now: Superintendent Rick Smith said the levy’s passage will help the district continue to pay for books, teachers and other expenses.

• Comment: “It keeps everything stable,” Smith said.

Northridge

• What happened: Voters renewed a 5-year, 8.8-mill emergency operating levy that will continue to cost homeowners $269 per $100,000 of property value. The levy passed with 56 percent of the vote, according to final, unofficial returns from the county board of elections.

• What now: The levy, which accounts for about $2.1 million annually, or more than 17 percent of the district’s $12 million annual budget, allows the district to continue its recent progress. The district was taken off the Ohio Department of Education’s fiscal caution list in June, and since then, the district has added all-day, every-day kindergarten, restored its vocational agriculture program and cut student-athlete pay-to-play costs in half.

• Comment: “This isn’t just about the $2.1 million,” said Superintendent Chris Briggs. “This is a measuring stick for where we stand with the community.”

Southwest Licking

• What happened: Voters defeated a $66.5 million bond issue that would have been paid off with a property tax collected at an annual average rate of 6.10 mills for 37 years for construction and renovation of facilities. The bond proposal was rejected by 55 percent of voters, according to final, unofficial returns from the boards of election in Licking and Fairfield counties.

• What now: The substantial list of district improvements, which included a new high school and elementary, as well as renovations to the district’s other buildings, will be shortened and tightened, as the district falls back to the Ohio Schools Facilities Commission waiting list for state-match money. With the bond-issue failure last fall and this spring, the district failed to come up with its share of the improvements funding in the 13 months allotted.

• Comment: “The district needs will continue, additional modular will be needed, the busing of some elementary kids away from their home schools will continue,” said Superintendent Bob Jennell. “It will definitely hamper any new initiatives, such as all-day, every-day kindergarten and STEM. Our facilities are growing older every day, and the costs and needs to maintain them continue to go up.”

Walnut Township

• What happened: Voters overwhelmingly rejected a 5-year, 6.9-mill levy. The vote was 64 percent against, according to final, unofficial returns from the county board of elections.

• What now: The levy was sought to generate $1 million annually for operations. The district of about 590 students, which currently operates on a $7.5 million general-fund budget, needs more money to keep pace with personnel and health-insurance expenses, Treasurer Kirk Grandy said.

• Comment: “We will be right back on the ballot in November. We will not have a choice,” Grandy said.